Since 2005, the SEA-HiEd SOM, formerly the Meeting of Directors General/Secretary-General/Commissioner of Higher Education in Southeast Asia (DGs/SG/CHE), has served as a crucial platform for national authorities responsible for higher education in the Southeast Asian region to identify priorities, discuss strategies and synergise plans towards the further development and harmonisation of higher education in the region.

During the 12th SEA-HiEd SOM on 26 April 2018, the Meeting revisited progress in four established priority areas, namely: 1) Academic Mobility Enhancement; 2) Leadership Development; 3) e-Learning and Mobile Learning; and 4) the ASEAN Citation Index (ACI). While revisiting progress under these respective areas, the Meeting also explored new priorities and opportunities for Southeast Asian higher education and invited regional partners, including the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and European Union Support to Higher Education in the Asean Region (SHARE) project to present future plans for collaboration and the advancement of higher education in the region.

In conjunction with the annual SEA-HiEd SOM, the SEA-HiEd Forum provides a platform for national government authorities responsible for higher education and regional university representatives to share good practices and update policies and practices being implemented at national and regional levels among selected topics in higher education.

The 2018 SEA-HiEd Forum on Lifelong Learning for Skills and Employability on 27 April 2018 explored national policies and implementation plans towards the development of lifelong learning initiatives as well as the role of higher education institutions in supporting this direction and challenges faced. The Forum was attended by more than 60 participants composed of national government authorities, regional partners and university representatives from throughout the region and beyond. A Keynote presentation by Mr. Musa Fazal, Divisional Director of the SkillsFuture Division of the Ministry of Education, Singapore, and country panel presentations successfully encouraged engaging discussions throughout the course of the Forum to inspire and encourage greater contributions in fostering lifelong learning opportunities for the region.

SEAMEO RIHED would like to extend its gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Singapore, for hosting the 12th SEA-HiEd SOM and 2018 SEA-HiEd Forum on Lifelong Learning for Skills and Employability and ensuring their success and is also grateful to Dr. Gatot Hari Priowirjanto, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, for his warm welcome remarks and contributions to both events.

Group Photo of participants of the 2018 SEA-HiEd Forum on Lifelong Learning for Skills and Employability, 27 April 2018